Starving isn't so bad anymore (Don't Starve Together Fanfiction)

Chapter 9: Frenemy

As I helped put clay into the cracks between boards I took note of the shadowy figure being berated by Wickerbottom for not organizing her books right. I couldn't help but smile at the fact that the once god-like Maxwell was now a mere lackey to whomever requested his service out of fear we'd change out mind about helping him if he did otherwise. Unlike Maxwell I kept my word, for the most part, so I wouldn't change my mind. Especially not if it meant I could laugh at the bastard doing odd jobs for everyone, like when Webber wanted his help in moving the nearby spiders to a new nest.

After another few minutes the apparition, though I suppose that word isn't suitable since he was corporeal, walked over and glumly sat next to the boat whilst I continued putting clay in between the boards.

"Why so moody?" I asked delighted to see him sad.

"I never realized that you corporeal beings did so much work! Usually whenever I bothered to watch you all of you were lounging around a bonfire! Since when were all of you so busy?!" Maxwell said as he rubbed his temples. 

"Well it wasn't until your shadowy ass showed up that we had a goal in mind." 

"I never expected you all to be this damn focused!"

"We aren't really. We just love to make up chores for you because, well, we hate you." I said with a smirk.

"While partly fair, there is one thing I think you're all missing."

I raised an eyebrow, curious as to what the figure surrounded in a black mist would say.

"I'm not even the one who brought you all here! It was the original Maxwell that you all talk about as if he were some kind of old friend. But he's the reason you're all trapped here in this world. I mean, granted, he is technically the reason you have a wife and child but then I should get credit for my part in that." 

"Hmm..." I stopped my work to contemplate the duplicates words. He was right, to some degree. It was the original Maxwell that brought them here, admitted it even, but it was the duplicate the controlled the island and reveled at our despair. In truth both of them were at fault but the original had only brought them here in the hope of being freed, which led to his death, but the duplicate actively tried to make our lives a living hell from which there is no escape. And for a few years he succeeded. I knew what he was trying to do here. He was presenting me with information and he knew I'd analyze it. Though he was probably hoping I'd find something in the information that would make me forgive him. And I was glad to disappoint.

He looked at me with a patiently raised eyebrow.

"Maxwell, I do not forgive you for your actions, I'm happy to say. You cause more than your fair share of my suffering as well as the suffering the others endured. I will never forget your villainous grin when I first awoke on this terrible island, and thus will never treat you as a friend." I said as I resumed my work.

Maxwell looked sad, understanding, and annoyed all at once. 

"Now get up and help me seal these damn cracks, pal." I said with a smirk that rivaled Maxwell's as he stood up and began helping me with the clay. 

I didn't think of Maxwell as a true friend, but he was toeing the fine line of frenemy. He was the only person I had to talk to for three years, a gift if you thought about it. Maxwell could have easily left me to solitude and let me slide into complete insanity but instead he talked to and even played games with me. Frenemy was the perfect term for Maxwell. It meant I could talk to him in a friendly manner but also keep him at arms length and not be surprised if he betrayed me.

"What are you even doing?" Willow questioned as she walked in on a peculiar scene.

Maxwell, Wendy, and I were sitting at a table playing cards, using random scraps of food or materials in place of currency. Chester was seated happily in Wendy's lap with his tongue lolling out. 

"Wilson, what is going on?" Willow asked as she looked over my shoulder.

"Maxwell and I finished putting clay in the cracks on the boat and came back here to play cards and then Wendy wanted to join. We can deal you in next round if you want." I answered, not daring to look away from the two devilishly clever foes in front of me. Some would say I give them too much credit but they'd be wrong. I'd only ever won against Maxwell seven times and I'd never won against Wendy.

"Is that really the best use of your time?" 

"Yes, until everyone is all rested up and ready to try another test voyage there really isn't anything we need done in particular."

"Well I suppose, except for the fact that you're supposed to be keeping an eye on Whitney."

"She's under the table reading one of Wickerbottom's books." After I said that a small hand poked out from under the tablecloth and waved.

"Fine then. Any luck?" she asked leaning on my shoulder.

"Well of course!" I said confidently.

Just then Wendy laid down a full house and took all the food and materials from the center of the table.

The frightening teen and wicked devil stifled their laughter as I face palmed.

"Truly the luckiest of all gentlemen." Willow joked and patted my shoulder.

Wendy stuck her tongue out at me as she shoveled her winnings into Chester's mouth, a walking storage unit.

"Alright, deal me in. It's clear this is nothing more than a friendly way to torture Wilson and I want to be apart of it." Willow said with a wicked grin.

Whitney snickered beneath the table.

Somehow my wife, daughters, and frenemy were the people most interested in torturing me.